A Just Death for a Dictator?

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Violence creates more violence! As an American, I am deeply troubled by the execution. I feel we took the place of Pontius Pilate! Saddam should have been tried by an international court. Handing him over to the Shiites caused an unjust trial, a short appeal which became a farce, and an execution, that is an affront to human dignity. As an Iraqi, I would fear those responsible for his death as much as once Saddam! It's a "milestone" in more misery. -- Elisabeth Heptner,US

I do not feel it was a prudent move, but the Bush regime doesn't think through the big picture. I see nothing more than blood shed. A country that is attacked under false pretenses reserves the right to defend itself and suddenly they are terrorists, killed or whisked away to be inhumanely humiliated and tortured. There needs to be intervention. This will only get worse. -- Kathy Wittig, US

Perhaps the early execution of Hussein will send a signal to other potential aggressors that they may be punished after fair trial. Even the dictator could at last lament on his fate today, that if he had not pushed Iraq into the wars, he would not now be walking the last steps as a disowned former tyrant. -- Paul Lang

As a German citizen who lives in the US, I get the feeling that perhaps I've become a bit to Americanized (maybe it's the constant violent crime here).I think there are people on this earth who deserve to die, and Hussein was certainly one. Maybe a more just punishment would be to let him loose into a crowd of all the victims, and the relatives of victims that he brutalized over the years. Justice in the basest sense of the word. I hope it brings some type of closure to all those he tortured, raped, degraded, orphaned and murdered. -- Eva-Maria Barry

Saddam Hussein's trial and execution were both gross travesties of justice. Those countries that either actively or passively supported the act of capital punishment upon Saddam Hussein could be seen as colluding in murder. Not a positive outcome! -- Maureen T. Couch

That was the wrong thing, at the wrong time, in the wrong place. I think the price will be high for the American project in the Middle East and much higher for the government in Iraq. -- Aiman Yunes

There are many compelling reasons to oppose the death penalty. And there is plenty of hypocrisy to go around. But does that nullify justice? Will the death of Saddam bring about reconciliation? Of course not! Reconciliation is the goal of the living. Saddam has taken this option away from hundreds of his own citizens! The perpetrator of genocide (the deliberate and systematic extermination of a national, racial, political, or cultural group) should not be treated with pity. Saddam's trial, in accordance with the law, treated him fairly. Saddam has sentenced many to death. Now he has gotten the sentence he deserves. -- Eric Letourneau

Saddam got what he deserved. God Bless the USA -- MB Harvey

When will the violence stop? Executing Saddam Hussein solves nothing but will only create more violence. -- Bruce Hoyer

I believe that taking his life for the lives of the 148 Shiite Muslims in 1982 is a scam. It is the US government's attempt to distract the world in its shameful and distasteful attempt at controlling and occupying the second largest oil producing nation in the world. Kim Jong II, admits he has nuclear capabilities, but there's no mention of an invasion of North Korea, and he is far worse than Saddam Hussein. My question is: Why can't anyone find the admitted killer, Osama Bin Laden? -- Rich, US

Are we really growing spiritually by cheering somebody's death, like some viewers in a football field? Or are we going back in our human nature showing a total lack of a affection for the life itself, many lives were lost along the world history for sure. But will this single event demonstrate who we really are? Well, only God knows it. -- Cezar